Quote:
Originally Posted by Scott O
And speaking of temperature...what would be ballpark figures for desired operating temps for both the trans and engine coolant? Or does it vary significantly by model. I agree that the number reported on the gauge may or may not be correct and that a change from the usual could be significant. Just sorta curious...
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Scott -
I can answer only for my Explorers. On both of them, in normal driving, the trans temp always came up to about 180 degrees, and held there. It is so steady that I suspect it is thermostatically controlled somehow, though I don't know if that is true. Only under heavy load (towing uphill or against a headwind) does the temp start to climb above that.
I have not monitored engine coolant temp, but I think it is supposed to run about 220. It doesn't boil because it is under pressure. We have better automtive engineers than I on this board, so I may need to be corrected on this.
The reason for such a high temp has to do with the thermodynamics of an engine - a hotter engine is more efficient in terms of MPG. And everyone, especially the government, is obsessed with MPG today, right?
Bill